Books on the Nightstand discussion

***** SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS *****

While I won't say how the book ends I feel I can't talk about it without mentioning other plot points so if you haven't yet read the book, STOP reading this thread and come back when you're done :-)

The ending --- yes I did not like it. Amy and Nick deserve each other, that's for certain; but for them to ...... well, I just can't picture it. That is the worst possible outcome -- maybe not for them but for society as a whole.

Apart from that, the book is amazing with all of its twists. And Amy and Nick are two really messed up folks.

The thing about a book that gets so much talk about the number of "amazing twists" is that I subconsciously look for them and therefore am not that surprised when they occur. The other problem that I had with the book is that I really did not like either of them very much.

That being said it was a good book with an interesting and original format.

I agree about the ending. It seems so improbable. At the beginning of the book I hated Nick but knew there was something more to it. In part two I began to feel sorry for Nick and began to root for him. In part three of the book I lost any respect for him and wanted Amy to be truly gone. Bathe thought of the two of them together is beyond sickening, and can you imagine being their kid?

That's supposed to be "but the thought" not "bathe thought". I always seem to hit extra keys while typing on my iPad.

Beth wrote: "I agree about the ending. It seems so improbable. At the beginning of the book I hated Nick but knew there was something more to it. In part two I began to feel sorry for Nick and began to root ..."

Yeah, that poor child..... brought into the world for spite.

never thought the ending would be what is was love love love it

I loved the book. I had a dislike of Diary Amy at times, and actually found real Amy to be more complex and interesting at first- later on, though, is there no end to her depths of evil- and I think we all know that answer.

Nick- I didn't think he did it, but at times he had these thoughts that made me question exactly where the book was headed- a split personality- type thing I thought at one time.

The ending, while it's not the ending I'd have chosen, it actually is kind of fitting for the book. I don't hate it; but don't love it either.

Overall- highly recommend. I read in 2 days- stayed up way past bedtime one night b/c I could not put book down!

I'm really looking forward to reading this book - loved Sharp Objects and still have Dark Places to read.

Tamara wrote: "I loved the book. I had a dislike of Diary Amy at times, and actually found real Amy to be more complex and interesting at first- later on, though, is there no end to her depths of evil- and I thin..."

Yeah, there was something about Diary Amy that I didn't care for as well; as for real Amy *cough* psycho *cough*

I wrote a review of this so I won't reprint it here but the gist of it is that it's a wonderfully written book, it's tightly plotted and paced well BUT (notice that's a big BUT), the characters were so unlikeable that I couldn't identify with them at all. I have to have great, relatable characters or the book becomes sadly and easily forgetable.

Suzanne wrote: "Tamara wrote: "I loved the book. I had a dislike of Diary Amy at times, and actually found real Amy to be more complex and interesting at first- later on, though, is there no end to her depths of e..."

Diary Amy was the kind of girl you sorta dislike- the whole treasure hunt and how things would be SOOOO PERFECT for her and Nick. Although, there is grains of truth (or realness of Amy in Diary Amy)- she did want Nick to fawn over her and to get that whole treasure hunt (the first one). She wanted her parent's marriage to some extent. After all, she's Amazing Amy!

I laughed more during her psycho ways (at first)- she was so out there in her planning, etc- but cunning, completely, over the top smart.

While I didn't really like either character- I just found reading about them entertaining.

I don't mind not liking characters -- I have a problem won't I don't feel anything towards a character.
In this case I really disliked both Amy and Nick.

Tamara -- do you think Amy wanted her parents' marriage? I didn't get that. I think she wanted someone to keep giving her all the attention she was used to throughout her life.

Suzanne wrote: "I don't mind not liking characters -- I have a problem won't I don't feel anything towards a character.
In this case I really disliked both Amy and Nick.

Tamara -- do you think Amy wanted her pare..."

Suzanne- when she made comments about her parents marriage- the soulmates things- I don't think she wanted that part of the marriage exactly. But,if I remember correctly- it was her dad who started the treasure hunt with her (right?) So she wanted a marriage that emulated THAT kind of behavior- the adoring behavior, the attention. I think she wanted Nick to be like her dad a bit b/c I got the impression daddy put the mom up on a pedestal and they both put Amy on pedestal as well (although not as high as the Hope's).

Real Amy was deliciously evil. I laughed, too, more in that part. Diary Amy was so gorgeous, so sweet, just *so*.

GONE GIRL is the first book I've read by the author. Now I'll have to look for others by her.

Keetha wrote: "Real Amy was deliciously evil. I laughed, too, more in that part. Diary Amy was so gorgeous, so sweet, just *so*.

GONE GIRL is the first book I've read by the author. Now I'll have to look for ot..."

Me too. And I'm so mad -- Gillian Flynn was at a bookstore sort of nearby (an hour's drive) tonight but I couldn't attend.

Sarah Weinman just blogged about books to read after you've read GONE GIRL: http://offonatangent.tumblr.com/post/...

Gee thanks Ann for adding to my already massive reading list....lol.

Ann wrote: "Sarah Weinman just blogged about books to read after you've read GONE GIRL: http://offonatangent.tumblr.com/post/..."

Yeah, what Janet said. I wonder if there is a maximum number of books that can be put on a to-read list before it explodes.

This was a book I just couldn't put down. What a twisted couple and a twisted story! Loved it.

I'm about 40 pages from the end and I just want to mow them all down. More later

Ok. I felt like I needed to take a shower after finishing this book. Every character is hideously hideous -- If Hitchcock were alive today, he would make a movie of this book. (did you notice all the subtle and not-so-subtle references to Hitch?). Sadly, we all have a little of each of these characters within us. On the other hand, I could NOT put this book down. So. what the hell?!!

Juliette wrote: "Ok. I felt like I needed to take a shower after finishing this book. Every character is hideously hideous -- If Hitchcock were alive today, he would make a movie of this book. (did you notice all t..."

Hideously hideous -- I love that description!

Aren't they though? Maybe Flynn will write a sequel about their child....the serial killer.

Janet wrote: "Aren't they though? Maybe Flynn will write a sequel about their child....the serial killer."

I'd definitely read it ....

Am I the only one who had repeated flashbacks to Gretchen Lowell and Archie Sheridan (Heartsick, etc??) Just me?? They share that same, twisted, I-can't-believe-he-doesn't-run-away-but-I-guess-he-wouldn't-be-the-same-without-her relationship. It's like a trainwreck -- so horrifying, but I can't look away!

I have to admit, I think this book had been over-hyped for me. (I agree, Deborah!) So I wasn't as wow-ed by it as I was with "Heartsick". But I did think it was a LOT of fun. And I think the ending was fantastic.

Near the beginning I had a sick feeling that it was going from Jonathan Tropper (poor shlub tries to make good -- yay!) to Jonathan Franzen (every single character is reprehensible and it makes me feel slimy -- boo :( ). So when it veered off into Chelsea Cain, I was very excited.

Re the parents' marriage, well, I don't think she exactly wanted that, in that she probably wasn't capable of sustaining that type of devotion, but she did want to be the *recipient* of that type of devotion. I think she always felt a little excluded, a little unseen -- it was the idea of her, and not the actual her, that her parents adore. So when her marriage ended up like that, she just flipped.

But I just finished, so I may rethink all of this ;)

Suzanne wrote: "***** SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS *****

While I won't say how the book ends I feel I can't talk about it without mentioning other plot points so if you haven't yet read the book, STOP reading this ..."

I was enthralled by it...thought about it constantly...I just kept thinking Nick would "get her" in the end...

Now that I've read all of these Gone Girl posts, I'm going to put myself out on a limb here and say...I didn't think Nick was such a reprehensible character. I think he was a nice enough guy at heart, driven crazy by this psycho-babe...

nancy wrote: "Now that I've read all of these Gone Girl posts, I'm going to put myself out on a limb here and say...I didn't think Nick was such a reprehensible character. I think he was a nice enough guy at he..."
I agree - I did not find Nick that bad a guy - maybe not the greatest strength of character, but not nearly as diabolical as Amy.

Nick seemed kind of smarmy to me. That crack about how much he enjoyed his mistresses' young skin and how his wife (of the ripe old age of 40) had to use lotion...Nick may not have been as bad as Amy but he was no prize.

I don't think Nick was the worst character either.
And who knows how they would have turned out if they had stayed in New York?

On the smarmy scale Nick wasn't a 10 but he certainly wan't a victim either. That's what I mean they were all pretty creepy. The most honest characters were Jeff and Greta and they were criminals!

Juliette wrote: "On the smarmy scale Nick wasn't a 10 but he certainly wan't a victim either. That's what I mean they were all pretty creepy. The most honest characters were Jeff and Greta and they were criminals!"

How about Go (which I hated as a nickname btw)? She seemed to be a voice of reason for Nick once his infidelity was revealed.

so I've sort of been skimming these posts b/c Gone Girl is on my TBR. . . should I read it or skip it, in your opinions??

Becky wrote: "so I've sort of been skimming these posts b/c Gone Girl is on my TBR. . . should I read it or skip it, in your opinions??"

Read!! It's a good book. Really good!

Becky wrote: "so I've sort of been skimming these posts b/c Gone Girl is on my TBR. . . should I read it or skip it, in your opinions??"

Read the book, but STOP reading this thread until after you've read the book! It is definitely one that you want to go into without knowing what is going on :)

Becky wrote: "so I've sort of been skimming these posts b/c Gone Girl is on my TBR. . . should I read it or skip it, in your opinions??" Definately read it...why would you skip now. But I agree. Don't let the threads influence you...just read and then come back here..

Suzanne wrote: "Juliette wrote: "On the smarmy scale Nick wasn't a 10 but he certainly wan't a victim either. That's what I mean they were all pretty creepy. The most honest characters were Jeff and Greta and they..." Hmmm. That's a good question about Go. I also HATED that name...She was probably ok. (OK. GO? It's that a band?). Name was so weird I just couldn't take her seriously, I guess.

Don't get me wrong. This book is worth reading otherwise I would not have given it so much thought!

Becky wrote: "so I've sort of been skimming these posts b/c Gone Girl is on my TBR. . . should I read it or skip it, in your opinions??"

Definitely read it!!!

Great read!! Any book that engenders this much conversation should move to the top of your sommer TBR list

Becky wrote: "so I've sort of been skimming these posts b/c Gone Girl is on my TBR. . . should I read it or skip it, in your opinions??"

Definitely read!!! I finished Gone Girl almost a week ago and I still don't know what I want to say about.

Juliette wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "Juliette wrote: "On the smarmy scale Nick wasn't a 10 but he certainly wan't a victim either. That's what I mean they were all pretty creepy. The most honest characters were Jeff an..."
I have to disagree Suzanne. I thought Jeff and Greta were deceitful in every respect..and they were just so creepy.

Ann wrote: "Sarah Weinman just blogged about books to read after you've read GONE GIRL: http://offonatangent.tumblr.com/post/..."

Thanks for this great list Sarah & Ann...

Does anyone see any similarity to th 1981 novel The War of the Roses by Warren Adler? I've only seen the movie book think both have elements of marital discord and revenge.

I meant honest in that the reader knew immediately they were slimely -- no second guessing. in their case they were the only "reliable narrators" skeezy from the start.

Juliette wrote: "I meant honest in that the reader knew immediately they were slimely -- no second guessing. in their case they were the only "reliable narrators" skeezy from the start."

Oohh--that makes sense..

Ann wrote: "Sarah Weinman just blogged about books to read after you've read GONE GIRL: http://offonatangent.tumblr.com/post/..."

thanks for the great list Ann..I noticed Learning to Swim on it..didn't you talk about that a few weeks ago on the podcast?

So, I can't get past the last page.

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what that last sentence means and what psycho Amy is going to do next.

I kind of love/hate the ending. I mean, it's awful to think about, but I can see how Nick would feel like he had no options at that point (But he really didn't seem to want options anymore, did he?) Maybe he's hoping he can still trip her up and then he can live happily ever after with the baby?

They are both so messed up! Crazy, crazy book.

Helen wrote: "So, I can't get past the last page.

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what that last sentence means and what psycho Amy is going to do next.

I kind of love/hate the ending. I mean, it's ..."

SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS

I'm still pondering the last page too. I think the author has left it up to the reader. At first, I thought Amy did something to Nick. Then I thought Amy killed herself - the ultimate punishment for Nick. It could be an unhappily ever after meaning too. But in my mind, Amy killed herself. I might be completely misreading here.

I felt that Diary Amy was too good, and she bothered me because she seemed plastic - until I realized she was Diary Amy. "Real" Amy reminded way too much of the way Eric Harris was portrayed in
Columbine, which freaked me out a bit. I started to feel sympathy for Nick once Real Amy's voice was heard. Still processing this book. Wow! What a read!

I think you might be right. Because it would be worse for him to know that she killed herself & the baby to spite him. I don't think it can be as simple as unhappily ever after.

Helen wrote: "I think you might be right. Because it would be worse for him to know that she killed herself & the baby to spite him. I don't think it can be as simple as unhappily ever after."

I never thought of Amy killing herself but I can totally see her doing that just to spite Nick.

I need my husband to read this book so we can talk about it. Now I completely understand what Michael was talking about when he booktalked this one a few weeks ago.